Meet Patti Brassard Jefferson, author of 'How Long Will You Love Me?'

Patti Brassard Jefferson lives under a palm tree in sunny Florida with her husband, Ken and their 2 rescued mutts. How Long Will You Love Me is the first children's book that PBJ has written and illustrated. She began drawing when she was a little girl and forgot to stop when she grew up. She thinks doodling is a lost art and has a special place in her heart for the smell of a new box of crayons.


Follow Patti Brassard Jefferson:

Twitter URL: pbjmosaic
Facebook URL: facebook.com/pbrassard
Facebook Fan Page URL: facebook.com/howlongwillyouloveme

Do you do first drafts on a computer or by hand?

Definitely by pencil and usually on a drawing pad. As an author/illustrator, I write visually so I tend to need lots of space to think it out both in text and in doodles. I don't do anything on the computer at all until I am figuring out the fonts or laying out the title with the cover illustration.

How do you see the future of book publishing, both traditional, electronic and print on demand?


When I was deciding formats for How Long Will You Love Me? , I almost decided against making it available in an e-reader format. I just could not picture parents cuddled up to their kids at the end of the day reading a story on a Kindle. I took a very unscientific poll on my Facebook page asking for the opinions of new parents and grandparents. I was surprised how many people requested having an electronic version available. I guess I am a little old school and just the feel of a book and the smell of the pages is magical to me . I predict that as our society gets even more mobile in the future, we may even see more compact, mobile ways to read books. In the end though, all that really matters is that the stories are out there and are available in what ever format works for the reader. 
What happens before sitting down to write? 

I really have to go through a virtual isolation process which is why I think I write best when the house is quiet and everyone else is done with the day. I also have to make sure I have everything I need before I sit down because I will stop before will I get up to get something I can't find or reach. I need pencils, erasers, pencil sharpener, drawing pad, something to drink and maybe a chocolate. Oh and I need to give myself permission to just write -- not think about the bills, not run through what I have to get done tomorrow, not wonder how my book sales are going on Amazon -- just write in the here and now.

Do you do a lot of research for your book(s)?

There really isn't a reliable way to research a shopping frog or what goes into a hippo's party but I do try to pay attention to details. Obviously a dolphin doesn't really sit on a beach chair, but if it did, there would be some challenges like how uncomfortable a dorsal fin might be. I am proud to say that I have created the first beach chair with a dorsal fin slot in the back.


About the Book:

Whether it's a question from a child to a parent or an adult to their significant other, the question “How long will you love me?” probably gets asked more than you think...even if it just stays in your head and you are the only one who hears it. Patti Brassard Jefferson's creative first book starts with the question and each page gives a warm, rhythmic reassurance --- "I promise I will love you 'til..." It's the perfect book to read to someone to let them know your love is endless.

So, just how long WILL I love you? The answer is perfectly clear in this book!

Title of Book(s): How Long Will You Love Me?
Author & Illustrator: Patti Brassard Jefferson
Publisher: Halo Publishing, Int.
Genre: Children's book
ISBN Number:  ISBN: 9781612441658
Publication Date: June 2013

BONUS: Each page also has a heart drawn in it somewhere. While they are not very difficult to find, the search will also take the reader through some of the other subtle jokes such as a banner behind the bunny band that promotes Carrot-oke or a whale who's reading Moby Dick on the beach.

Places where available for sale:
            www.howlongwillyouloveme.com
            www.halopublishing.com/bookstore
            http://www.amazon.com/author/pbj
            www.bn.com


You can find out more about Patti Brassard Jefferson, her work and World of Ink Author/Book Tour at http://tinyurl.com/pxvhsc7 


To learn more about the World of Ink Tours visit http://worldofinknetwork.com  

Comments

Anonymous said…
Great interview. Cute book cover.
Rosi said…
Thanks for an interesting interview. I will be checking out this book. It looks charming.
Unknown said…
Thanks Mayra for a very fun interview & for sharing my book!
Patti Lavell said…
Great interview with an author who is sure to become an icon of children's literature. Thanks for sharing.
Joergen said…
How Long Will You Love Me is the first children's book that PBJ has written and illustrated. She began drawing when she was a little girl and ... bookcasechildren.blogspot.com